NAFDAC blacklists Aveo Pharmaceuticals, bans dangerous opioid combination - Thepodiummedia

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Post published:March 1, 2025
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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially blacklisted Aveo Pharmaceuticals Pvt Limited, an India-based pharmaceutical company managed by Vinod Sharma, for its involvement in the illegal production and export of dangerous opioid combinations to West Africa.

A BBC World Service investigation uncovered that Aveo Pharmaceuticals has been manufacturing and exporting unapproved drugs, including Tafrodol and Royal 225, which contain a mix of Tapentadol, a potent opioid, and Carisoprodol, a banned muscle relaxant.

According to Director General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, these substances had been linked to addiction, respiratory distress, seizures, and even death.

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The drugs have reportedly flooded the streets of Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, fueling opioid dependence in the region.

She emphasized that it had never approved Tafrodol, Royal 225, or any Tramadol product above 100mg for distribution in Nigeria.

Citing the NAFDAC Act and the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs Act, the agency has taken steps to prevent any future registration of products from Aveo Pharmaceuticals.

A covert investigation revealed that Vinod Sharma personally confirmed large-scale exports of these drugs to West Africa for illegal distribution.

Despite being unlicensed globally, the drugs have become popular street opioids due to their affordability and widespread availability.

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NAFDAC has ramped up enforcement measures, collaborating with security agencies to crack down on illicit pharmaceutical sales and prevent the smuggling of these substances through Nigeria’s borders.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health through stringent regulatory practices, inspections, and surveillance to eliminate fake and substandard drugs from circulation.

“The public is urged to avoid unregistered medications and report any suspicious pharmaceutical activities.

“NAFDAC remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard the health of Nigerians,” the agency said.

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Morak Babajide-Alabi is a graduate of Mass Communication with a Master of Arts Degree in Journalism from Napier University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. He is an experienced Social Media practitioner with a strong passion for connecting with customers of brands.

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Ademola AKINBOLA is an author, publisher, trainer, digital marketing strategist, and a brand development specialist with nearly three decades of experience in the areas of branding, communication, corporate reputation management, business development, organizational change management, and digital marketing.

He is the Founder and Head Steward at BrandStewards Limited, a brand and reputation management consultancy. He is also the Publisher of The Podium International Magazine, Ile-Oluji Times, and Who’s Who in Ile-Oluji.

He had a successful media practice at The Guardian, Punch and This Day.

He started his brand management career at Owena Bank as Media Relations Manager before joining Prudent Bank (now Polaris Bank) as the pioneer Head of Corporate Affairs.

The British Council appointed him as Head of Communication and Marketing to co-ordinate branding and reputation management activities at its Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt offices.

In 2007, he was recruited as the Head of Corporate Planning and Strategy for the Nigerian Aviation Handling company. He led on the branding, strategic planning and stakeholder management support function.

His job was later expanded and redesigned as Head of Corporate Communication and Business Development with the mandate to continue to execute the Board’s vision in the areas of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Branding and New Businesses.

In 2010, he voluntarily resigned from nacho aviance to focus on managing BrandStewards, a reputation and brand management firm he established in 2003. BrandStewards has successfully executed branding, re-branding and marketing communication projects for clients in the private and public sectors.

Ademola obtained a M.Sc. Degree in Digital Marketing & Web Analytics from Dublin Institute of Technology in 2016, and the Master of Communication Arts degree of the University of Ibadan in 1997. He had previously obtained a Higher National Diploma (with Upper Credit) in Mass Communication from Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta.

He has published several articles and authored five management books.

He has benefitted from several domestic and international training programmes on Brand Management, Corporate Communications, Change Management and Organizational Strategy.